What is the minimum width of non-motorized vehicle lanes on urban roads?
2 Answers
Non-motorized vehicle lanes are 0.6m wide. Motor vehicle lanes: For motor vehicle lanes, on multi-lane highways above Class III, each lane is 3.5~3.75 meters wide. Highways between towns generally do not have sidewalks. Sidewalks on urban arterial roads are calculated based on actual pedestrian flow, with a minimum width of 3 meters, and can be as wide as 15-20 meters. Minimum width of non-motorized vehicle lanes: Side strips are commonly used in the cross-section design of urban roads to separate fast lanes from slow lanes, motor vehicle lanes from non-motorized vehicle lanes, and vehicle lanes from sidewalks. The minimum width of side strips is stipulated to be 2.0m to 2.25m. In cold and snowy northern regions, in addition to meeting the minimum width requirements, consideration should also be given to whether they can meet the temporary storage needs of snow accumulation.
I saw someone asking about the minimum width of non-motorized vehicle lanes on urban roads. As an ordinary citizen who commutes by bike every day, I know this is very important. The standard stipulates a minimum width of 1.5 meters, meaning a dedicated bike lane must be at least this wide for safe passage. I live in the old town, where some lanes are so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time, making cycling particularly dangerous. If an e-bike tries to overtake, a collision could easily happen. Last year, I personally experienced a situation where a vehicle was going too fast and got stuck on a narrow path, nearly causing an accident. In reality, if the lanes were wider—say, over 2 meters—cycling would be smoother, and the risk of traffic jams would decrease. When designing lanes, the government should prioritize this minimum standard, along with anti-slip measures and clear signage, to ensure the safety of all cyclists. Don’t underestimate the importance of 1.5 meters—it directly affects daily commuting comfort, especially during peak hours. I encourage everyone to pay more attention to local road planning and advocate for improvements to narrow sections.
